Give up
When we were driving from a (in my view) mediocre stand-up last week (note to yourself, people get cancelled for a reason), Paulina asked an interesting question.
The main act had a couple of supporting comedians who were still trying to make it.
They must have been around our age, so 40.
Her question was about at what point you give up chasing the dream.
If it didn’t happen by then, that’s probably it. It’s time to face the facts.
I think it is the wrong question.
Because, at least from my point of view, it’s not about chasing a dream, but rather exploration of the arts as a means of growth.
So, it’s a fact that I won’t be a rock star. This dream of a teenager is over.
I could pursue every opportunity, every gig, every chance to still make it. It could happen, yes, but most likely it’s a delusion that would make people roll their eyes.
But, it doesn’t mean I have to stop exploring music as an artform.
Same with writing, composing, sports, anything really.
‘Chasing a dream’ usually means creating a job and turning art into a product that we can sell and make money from.
Exploring art is the opposite of that.
It’s doing it for the sake of doing something creative.
Because of the intrinsic feeling that we must, otherwise we could literally explode.
All the projects I do on the side are because I want to do them. I know there is almost zero chance that they will make back the money invested.
But I have a great job that can support it, and I want to do it.
Just like other people who work on cars, woodwork, run marathons and get involved in community projects in their spare time.
Exploring the arts is about personal growth, commitment and a desire to start something and finish it.
There is a great video from my favourite fantasy writer about this exact topic, and why AI will never be art.
WORK
For a few years now, I had an idea for a particular project.
We all know that in recent years, immigration took the number 1 spot of people’s concerns.
One can argue that Brexit, American elections, and European unstable politics are a result of immigration policies and governments that don’t know how to deal with it.
Usually, we get to hear two loud sides, pro-immigrant and anti-immigrant.
But rarely do we hear from the immigrants alone. And if we do, it is usually sob stories or crime news.
As an immigrant who lived in the UK for almost 20 years, I always thought there was a space for a voice from someone who moved countries and started a new life.
But not advice, not pros and cons, none of that ‘regular’ immigrant info.
But rather a funny, tongue-in-cheek, satirical look. When we laugh at both sides, we show that life is absurd for everyone, and we are all in this together.
And because it comes from a point of view of an actual immigrant, it could allow for maybe a sharper comment and an insider’s view.
Anyway.
For a few years, I mulled over this idea, but I wasn’t sure how to approach it.
Podcast interviewing immigrants?
A blog that we can then turn into a book?
A social media post showcasing funny immigrant stories?
However, after experimenting with YouTube videos over the years, I finally decided that this will be the format I am most interested in at the moment.
As the new year started, I decided to give it a go, and on Saturday, I released my first video on a brand new channel.
I have no expectations other than (with the help of my brother) doing maybe 10 or 15 of these and seeing if there is any reaction.
Then decide if it’s worth continuing.
Enough talking.
The first one is about a morning routine.
BOOKS
Wiedźmin by Andrzej Sapkowski
I officially started the last book in the saga.
LIVE
The Music of Motown
I learned about Motown when I was studying music history and fell in love with the groove, bass lines and harmonies. We went to see the show last week, and it was a showcase of musicianship with 7 singers and the band performing the best songs of that era.
MOVIES/TV
Pluribus
We started the latest shows from Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, X-Files) and even after the 2 episodes, it is clear he is above the rest. The way it’s done is so different to most of what we get served today, and the absurdist story only adds to the storytelling.
F1
I finally watched the movie that came out last year. I really liked the shots of racing and the cars, but the story was a copy-paste sports drama, with all the elements we expect from a big Hollywood movie. Product placements, pop songs, and a rogue, bad-boy hero who wins all hearts in the end. It was a fun entertainment, but that’s about it.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you (hopefully!) next week!
Mike
https://mikemigas.com/
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